Role of superoxide dismutase in survival of Leishmania within the macrophage

Ghosh, Sanjay ; Goswami, Srikanta ; Adhya, Samit (2003) Role of superoxide dismutase in survival of Leishmania within the macrophage Biochemical Journal, 369 . pp. 447-452. ISSN 0264-6021

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Official URL: http://www.biochemjusa.org/bj/369/0447/3690447.pdf

Related URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1042/BJ20021684

Abstract

Intracellular parasitic protozoans of the genus Leishmania depend for their survival on the elaboration of enzymic and other mechanisms for evading toxic free-radical damage inflicted by their phagocytic macrophage host. One such mechanism may involve superoxide dismutase (SOD), which detoxifies reactive superoxide radicals produced by activated macrophages, but the role of this enzyme in parasite survival has not yet been demonstrated. We have cloned a SOD gene from L. tropica and generated SOD-deficient parasites by expressing the corresponding antisense RNA from an episomal vector. Such parasites have enhanced sensitivity to menadione and hydrogen peroxide in axenic culture, and a markedly reduced survival in mouse macrophages. These results indicate that SOD is a major determinant of intracellular survival of Leishmania.

Item Type:Article
Source:Copyright of this article belongs to Portland Press Limited.
Keywords:Antisense RNA; Leishmania; Macrophage; Superoxide Dismutase
ID Code:12066
Deposited On:10 Nov 2010 04:47
Last Modified:16 May 2016 21:28

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